It
was with deep regret and sadness the people of Tarbert and surrounding districts
learned of the death of Mr Maurice Fitzgerald, The Lanterns Hotel and Steeple
Road, Tarbert, which took place at his residence on Wednesday night after
an illness patiently and bravely borne. The news of his death cast a gloom
over the entire area where he was a leading light of the community and a
thriving businessman.In his late forties, he was son of the late James and Nora Fitzgerald, Steeple Road, and one of a family of fourteen children. One shining example of Maurice Fitzgerald's ability for success was his initiative to develop and extend The Lanterns which he purchased in 1988. It is now a fully established and recognised hotel and a focal point for North Kerry and West Limerick. In all his dealings with people for various events in the hotel, he was always courteous and generous and was also well known and highly respected for his caring attitude for charitable organisation and for the less well off.
Maurice was an employee for over 25 years at Tarbert ESB generating station and there were few aspects of public, sporting and social life of the district with which he was not actively associated. He was involved for a number of years in the local development association and was the driving force in the fund raising for different projects in the parish. He will be specially remembered for his efforts and involvement in the back to Tarbert reunion festival in 1993 which was a huge success with the return of so many Tarbert people from overseas.
He was a great supporter of the GAA at all levels and through his sponsorship of the North Kerry Senior Football Championship brought new ideas to the competition, the most notable being the team of the championship which Maurice described as the North Kerry All-Stars. He was also a great friend and supporter of the local Ferry Ranger Soccer Club. He will be sadly missed in many quarters and more especially by his wife, Maureen, and his son and daughter, brother and sisters.
There was a huge attendance at the removal of the remains from St Mary's Funeral Home, Tarbert to St. Mary's Church on Friday evening. The attendance at the funeral mass on Saturday and burial in the adjoining cemetery was the biggest ever seen in the parish.
The chief celebrant at the mass was Very Rev. Mossy Brick, PP, Tarbert. The other celebrants were: Fr Phillip O'Connell, PP, Ballylongford, Fr James O'Hanlon, Fr Tommy O'Hanlon, Fr Tim O'Leary Ballyhahill and Fr Kieran O'Rourke, Loughra. After Holy Communion, sister M Ambrose read the poem "Friendship" in memory of her brother and at the end of the mass Niall paid a moving tribute to his father.
Former workmates from the ESB and members of local organisations provided a guard of honour from the church to the adjoining cemetery.
After the burial an oration was given by Senator Dan Kiely who said that Maurice was a friend of everyone and his death is a huge loss to his wife and family and to the community in Tarbert. In a final farewell, his brother, James, sang Maurice's favourite song Séan South of Garryowen.
Maurice is survived by his wife, Maureen, son Niall, daughter Niamh, brothers Thomas (Tarbert), Michael (London and Moyvane), William (Los Angeles), James (Tarbert) and John (Chicago), sisters Sarah (Oklahoma), Mary (Loughill), Sr M Ambrose (Loughrea), Kathleen (Tarbert), Johanna (Chicago), Carmel (Seattle), Celestine (Tarbert) and Mairead (Chicago), brothers in law, sisters in law, nephews, nieces, relatives and many friends to whom sympathy of the community is extended.